Woman assaulted three police officers after she fled the scene of South Tyneside crash

Christine Irving, 25, left behind her purse, passport and phone at the scene of the smash in Stirling Avenue, Brockley Whins, Jarrow, on Sunday, March 22, a court heard.

She kicked the first policeman in the groin after he traced her to her nearby home in Australia Grove, and placed her in handcuffs.

Irving, who smelled of booze, then kicked a second officer on the thigh when he arrived as back-up to the late night incident.

And she booted a third PC on the bottom at a police station where moments earlier she had refused to give a sample of breath.

The ex-retail sector worker faced a total of 51 weeks behind bars for the assaults but was instead given a lengthy community order and must pay the officers compensation.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “In the early hours, the police receive a number of reports from residents saying they had heard a bang from outside.

“They saw that a vehicle had crashed into a wall. The police could see a white Volkswagen up against a garden wall.

“They checked the vehicle and found a phone, purse and a passport in the name of Ms Irving. Because of this, they went to her home.

“She is described as intoxicated and smelling of alcohol, and is arrested. The officer is alone and he puts cuffs on and calls for back-up.

“He describes being kicked in the groin by Ms Irving. A second PC comes and he is kicked on the right thigh.”

Ms Burgess said Irving was taken to the station’s CAMIC breath test suite and provided a single sample.

But she added: “She is described as fooling about during the process and refuses to provide a second sample.

“When an officer in the CAMIC room attempts to undertake a CAMIC test, he felt a sudden blow to his buttock on the right side. She had kicked him.”

Joanne Gatens, defending Irving, who has no previous convictions, said: “A friend had come round to visit. They had a few drinks and, mixed with medication, has perhaps caused her to behave in this manner.

“She had driven the car and crashed the car. She ran from the scene and reported the vehicle missing.

“Her friend tried to take the officer to one side and ask him not to be heavy handed with her.

“I’m told that her hands were forced up behind her back, and she reacted that way.

“She acknowledges that she made all the wrong decisions that night.”

Mum-of-two Irving pleaded guilty to three assaults of an emergency worker and failing to provide a sample for analysis.

She was given an 18-month community order with a requirement of 20 rehabilitation days’ work with the Probation service and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Irving was also banned from driving for six months and must pay a £90 victim surcharge, £40 court costs and each officer £75 compensation.

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